WOe (2025)

A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black shirt and silver jewelry, sitting outdoors on steps, looking directly at the camera.

Directed by Devyn Nace

Watch "woe"
Short | Experimental | Student

Director Statement

Woe is a film that has lived in my mind for years, evolving, lingering, and waiting for the right moment to take shape. I’ve dwelled on its creation for so long that finally seeing it come to life feels both surreal and deeply fulfilling. Every element—every shot, every sound, every unsettling moment—fell into place in a way that felt inevitable, as if the film had been waiting for me just as much as I had been waiting for it.

This is not a film that offers a single, definitive meaning. Woe is meant to be experienced, interpreted, and felt in ways that are unique to each viewer. It means something deeply personal to me, just as it has meant something different to everyone who has watched it. That’s what I love most—hearing others’ interpretations, each one valid, each one revealing a new perspective that even I may not have considered.

More than anything, Woe is an invitation: to feel, to question, to linger in discomfort, and to embrace the unknown. I couldn't be more proud of this film, and I hope it stays with you long after the credits fade.

Synopsis

A young woman keeps calling, but her lover won’t pick up— not after what she did. She is stuck in a cycle of chasing highs just to come crashing down into unbearable sorrows. From moments of euphoria to anxiously pacing her bedroom, she just wants to reunite with her lover again, to feel loved, to feel like she matters. Her boyfriend wants her back, but she is all alone in this limbo of Woe.

Credits

Director, Writer, & Editor | Devyn Nace

Cast | Jaden Ng

Cast | Frankie Choi

Gaffer | Chad Varnado

Sound | Aileen Samayoa

Choreographer | Joseph Deocares

Script Editor | Gavin Ayers

Production Assistant | Jason Ahn

Music | “825 hp” by Exodia

Specifications

Genre | Experimental & Drama

Runtime | (05:56)

Completion Date | January 12, 2025

Production Budget | 100 USD

Country of Origin | United States

Country of Filming | San Francisco, United States

Language | English

Shooting Format | Digital

Film Color | Color

Student Project | San Francisco State University

Special thanks to our Donors and Helpers

Shaun Nace,

Shaghayegh Bibiyan,

Kourosh Bibiyan,

& Jason Ahn

Thank you for making this film possible!